Braiding-machine.



S. W. WARDWELL.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1910.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

s. W. WARDWELL. BRAIDING MACHINE,

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 12, 1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1 rezvro S. W. WARDWELL.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1910.

1,@81,M I Patented Dec.16, 1913.

5 SHBBTSSHEET 3.

WWI/V70? S. W. WARDWELL.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 11111.12A 1910.

Patented Dec. 16, 191 3 6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' Irma/vars S.v W. WARDWELL. BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1910.

' Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

l lrmssss-s following specification, i lustra-ted by the ac- .aa cine $115031 W. 'WABDWELL, 0F @ROVIIDENGE, RHODE ISLAND.

I B RAIDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 19113.

Application sled Janiiary 12, 1910. SerialNo. 537,742.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, SIMON W. WARDWELL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Braiding-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of improvements in braiding machines and relates particularly to that class of machines in which the yarn supplies are arranged in tiers and-revolved in o posite directions about a common axis. In t is style of braider the braiding operabe capable of producing braid of varying patterns ,without the substitution of new.

parts.

The essential feature of the oom rises an adjustable, 'mec anism for controlling and regulating the deflection of the yarns so that their sinuous paths may be varied according to the pattern desired in the fabric.

My invention is full described in the new machine companymg drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the compete machine; Fig. 2, an enlarged sectional elevation of the central portion of the machine, taken on a plane at right angles to that of the section in Fig. 1; ig. 3, asectional view showing a detail of construction, taken on the line z-z of Fig. 4; Fig. 4, a lan view showing the switches for controling the paths of the sinuating yarns, and illustrating their operating mechanism as employed for one variet of braid; Fig. 5, a similar plan view wit the switches in a difierent position, and showing theirI operating mechanismfor another variety of braid; Fig. Q, a die ammatic representa'- tion of one variety 0 braid; Fig. 7, a develo ment of the same, showing the relation 0% the fabricated yarns in this variety of braid; Fig. 8, a diagrammatic re lresenta tion of another variety of braid; Fig.9, a development of the same, showing the relation of the yarns in this style of braid; Fig.

10, a development of the exact pattern of 1 plain braid, so-called; Fig. 11, a develoption is efiected by deflecting the yarns from self containedment of the exact pattern of basket braid, so-called.

- My new machine in general is similar in structure and arrangement to that described in my Patent No. 1,032,870, dated July 16,

1912. As shown in Fig. 1, it comprises amain frame 2, an outer turret 3, rotatable on balls 4 supported in a race on the frame 2; and an inner turret 5, carrying a head 6, rotatable in a direction opposite to that of the turret 3 on the balls 7. A gear 8 fast 'on the shaft 9 and engaging gears 10 and 11 on the outer and inner turrets, respectively, serves to drive the latter in opposite directions, as previously explained, when power is applied to the driving pulley 12. The clutch-mechanism for connecting the pulley 12 with the driving shaft 9, and the meanslfor controlling the same to start or stop the machine, are not here shown or described in detail as they form no part of the present invention. The outer turret 3 carries brackets 13 for supporting the yarn supplies 14, and suitable tension devices 15 mounted on the brackets are arranged to control the delivery of their individual yarns. In the outer rim of the turret 3 is a V-shaped, annular groove or race 16 in which travel the appropriately shaped runners 17 of the carriers 18. The carriers 18 support the upper set of yarn supplies 19 and are also provided with tension devices,

not here shown. Above each supply 14, and

in line with the delivery point of its'tens'ion device, is a slit 0r thread-Way 20 in the rim.

of the turret 3. These slits permit the lower yarns w to play radially out and in as they on the edge of the dished portion 22 of-the rim and on the outer flange 2'3 formed on its periphery. A slight clearance is provided between the under sides of the drivers aind the conical surface of the rim of the turret 3 to avoid wear on these parts. in

the surface of the rim of the turret 3 is a cam groove .24 and the under side of each driver is provided with a stud or roll 25 which engages this groove. As the turret 3 rotates in a directlon opposite to that of the head 6, which carries the drivers, the cam groove will act on the rolls 25 to project the drivers into and withdraw them from engagement with the carriers 18.. The arrangement of the drivers with respect to the cam groove is such that each carrier is at all times engaged by one of its drivers and the drivers of each pair are withdrawn and returned into engagement with the carber 29. The member29, which I term the bonnet, is of hat shape and at the top of v its crown is mounted to rotate ona bearing? plies revolve in opposite directions. v50

rier one after the other so that a passing yarn will encounter no obstruction in going between the carrier and the head 6. On. the deck of each carrier are two abutments' 26, see Fig. 4, having slots 27 with which the endsofthe drivers engage. The drivers are held in position in their guideways in the head 6 by the conical rim 28 of a-mem- 30. 5 The bearing 30 forms apart of the tubular standard 31 which surmounts the frame 2 and is secured thereto by the screws 7 32. The outer rim 28 of the bonnet 29 is secured to the head 6 by screws 33, see Fig. i

3, which also serve a further purpose as hereafter described. The bonnet 29 rotates as a part of the head 6 and serves as a hood or casing to cover andprotect the internal parts of the machine. On the top of the bonnet is a conical cap 34 which incloses I the mechanism for reciprocating the thimble or beater 35. This latter device acts to beat the yarns into the fabric and is described in detail in ,my application previously referred to, so that it need not here be further explained.

The yarns m' fr om the lower set of sup plies 14 andthe yarns y from the upper supplies 19 are led up to the beater 35 and convergein the tubular fabric at b. The

braidinghoperatiori is effected by causing the s'muating yarns w to pass over certain outer edge of the carrier to pass above the supply 19, or on to the inner edge to pass ;under the latter. Normally, the mean radial positions of the lower yarns it would. carry to them inside the points of the carrier decks,

and to deflect them on to the outer edges the switches 36- are caused to take positions contiguous to the points of the carriers, as shown in Fig. 4.

In my application previously referred to the switches for controlling the paths of the I 0 Q I lower sinuatmg yarns are formed as triscrews extend through the rim 28 of the bonnet 29 and screw into the rim 22 of the head 6, see Fig. 3. To prevent the screws from binding the switches against the rim 28 they are formed with shoulders 38 which are set up against the face of the mm 22 and a slight clearance is provided under the heads of the screws so that the switches The switches turn easily on their pivots. 36 are preferably made of sheet metal to render them light and thereby eliminate the effects of inertia and momentum in their action. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, they are constructed with relatively long arms 39 reaching out toward the points of the carriers 18 and arms 40, substantially perpendicular thereto, through which they are actuatedf The end of the arm 39 is bent down at 41 and terminates in a crescent shaped extension 42, adapted to overlap the point of the carrier deck and conforming to the shape of its outer edge.

For actuating the switches I provide a ring 44 carried by and rotated with the nner turret 5 and adapted to be oscillated independently thereof. The ring 44 is mounted on flanged rolls 45 pivoted on the standards 46 extending upward from the base of the head 6 see Fig?- 1. The rolls 45 provide for a practically frictionless bearing for the ring 44 on the head 6 andtheir flanges hold the ring from vertical movement. The ring 44 is connected to actuate the switches 36 by the following arrangement: On the periphery of -the ring are projections or lugs 47 equal in number to the switches, and inclined upward so that they are just below the rim 28 of the bonnet 29 andin'a plane parallel therewith. These projections are ormed with slots or openings 48 which engage pins 49 extending downward from the. arms 40 of the switches 36. The pins 49' reach through suitable slots 50 in the rim 28 in which they are adapted to play, see Fig. 2. It will be seen that by oscillating the ring 44 with a rotary motion the'switchesmay be actuatedto throw their extremities 42 toward or away from the points of the carriers. The advantage .of making the and. smoothness of operation.

To actuate the ring 44 I make use of a lever 52 pivoted on a stud. 53 screwed into the standard 54 on the head 6, see Figs. 1 and 2. One arm 55. of the lever 52; has an upwardly extending pin 56 which engages a hole in the rectangular block 57. The block 57 is fitted to a slot 58 on the ring 44 and when the lever 52 oscillates the block plays in this slot to provide for the divergence of the areal path of the pin 56 from that of the ring 44. The lever 52 is actuated through its arm 59' by the novel interchangeable means now described.

In machines of this general arrangement heretofore used in the art the lever which oscillates the switches is actuated by a single cam secured to the central frame of the machine. With this arrangement when it is desired to braid a different pattern of fabric it is necessary to take the whole machine apart and substitute a different style of cam for the one in place. It is obvious that such alteratiohin the machine will require considerable time andlabor and it is my object in the present improvement to dispense Withthe necessity of taking down the machine and substituting new mechanism. To attain this object I provide interchangeable cams built into the machine and adapted to be shifted at will, by a lever or other manually operated means, to engage them successively with the switch actuating lever 52.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown two. earns 60 and. 61 adaptedto slide up and down on the central standard 31 of the machine frame. The cam 60 is preferably formed with a sleeve 62 bored to fit the standard 31 and turned down at 63 to receive the hub 64 of the other cam 61 which abuts the shoulder 65. to locate it thereon. The cams 60 and 61 have grooves 66 and 67, respectively, in theiroppos'ed faces which are adapted to be engaged by the studs or rolls 68 and 69 on the lever 52. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the cams intheir lowermost position with the roll 69 on the top of the lever 52 engaging the groove 67 in the upper cam 61. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the roll 69 in this engagement with the cam 61 andillustrates the form of the groove 67 by dot-- ted lines. By raising the two cams on. the standard 31 the upper cam. 61 can be carried out of engagement with the roll 69 and the lower cam 60 brought into enga ement with the roll 68 on the bottom of e lever 52.

Big. 5 illustrates the roll 68 in engagement that with the lower cam 6.0, the upper cam 61 being removed to show the form of the cam groove 66. For shifting the cams I make use of a lever 70 pivoted at 71 on the overhanging portion 72 of the frame 2, see Fig. 1. A rod 73 's bent at 74 to engage a hole at the inner end of the lever 70, see Fig. 2, and is secured in position by the pin 75. The rod 7 3 extends up through the central opening in the frame 2 and its upper end is bent at right angles at 76 to project through a slot 77 in the standard 31. Driven into a transverse bore in the sleeve 62 is a hollow stud 78 which has its head 79 flattened 'on opposite sides to adapt it to fit the slot 77 in which it slides, see Fig. 1. The end 76 of the rod 73 extends through the bore .of the stud 78, and through a hole in the hub of the cam 61, and the pin 7 9 fastens it in place. This arrangement secures the cam 61 in position on the sleeve 62 and the stud 78 sliding in the slot 77 acts as a key to prevent the cams from turning on the standard 31. By rocking the lever 70 the cams can be raised or lowered on the standard 31 to successively engage the difierent cam grooves with their appropriate studs on the lever 52. To secure the-cams in their operative positions I provide means for fastening the lever -70 at its outer end. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner and I have preferred to show a lug 80 on the portion 72 of the frame 2 having appropriately spaced holes for a receiving a screw 81 extending ghrough the end of the lever, see dotted lines,

ig. 1. The operation of the whole machine is as follows: The pulley 12, belted to a suitable source of power, turns the shaft 9, and through the gear 8 meshing with the gears 10 and 11 on the turrets 3 and 5, the latter are rotated in opposite directions. The lower supplies 14 are revolved on the tnrret 3 and. their yarns as, drawing up to the braiding pointb, move'in the direction indicated by the arrow-a, Figs. 4 and 5. The carriers 18, supported on the rim of the turret 3 with their runners sliding in the oove 16, revolve in the opposite direction to that of the supplies 14, as indicated by the arrow 0, Figs. 4 and 5. The carriers 18 are propelledby the turret 5 through the drivers 21 which reciprocate radially in alternately opposite directions to engage and disengage the grooves 27 in the abutments on the. carriers decks. The drivers are actuated by the engagement of their rolls 25 with the cam groove 24 and their movement is so timed in relation to the movement of the lower supplies '14 that as the yarn m enters the opening between the carrier and its driving. head 6 the first driver of the pai; will be withdrawn to let it pass by. After the yarn 02 passes the first driver the latter is shot back into engagement with the carrier and the second driver is then withdrawn to let the yarn pass out at this end. Normally the path of the yarn w will cause it to strike on'the inner edge of the carriers point and with the switch 36 open, as shown in Fig. 5, the yarn will draw along this edge and be deflected to pass under the upper supply 19. When the switch is closed, as shown in Fig. 4, the yarn x will strike against the crescent shaped extremity 4:2 and be deflected thereby on to the outer edge of the carrier deck to cause it to pass above the supply 19, see, also, Fig. 1. The switches are moved by the ring 44 which is oscillated rotatively back and forth on the head 6 by the lever 52. The two cams 60 and til-serve interchangeably to rock the lever 52 'and' both cams have grooves which give the same range of action to the lever and therefore to the switches. 'In bther words, either cam will operate to throw the switches the same distance from open to closed position, and

vice versa. The essential difference between the two cams is in the timing of their movement of. the switches.- When the cam 61 'is in engagement with the lever 52 the movement of the switches is at relatively longer intervals and the timing is such that the switches will stay open while the yarns w pass by on the inside of two carriers. Like- .wise, when the switches are closed they will stay closed until the yarns w pass by on the outside of two carriers. The result of this action on the fabric is shown in the pattern the yarn y of the first pair and then over of the braid. Fig. 6 illustrates diagrammatically the lower yarns aa'passing over and under the upper yarns y in pairs. This variety of braid is produced'by the action of the .cam 61 and it will be noted that while any one of the lower yarns m is passing over two of the upper-yarns y the next following .yarn x will pass over only one of this pair of yarns y and under the next yarn y. In other words, each following yarn w splits the pair of yarns y that the preceding yarn x has passed over and the same thing occurs in passing under the yarns y. Fig. 7- is a development of this character of fabric with the yarns shown spaced some distance apart to make the pattern more'pla'inj; The cross ing of the pairs of upper yarns .y by the lower yarns w is progressive; that is, one

yarn m will pass under one'pair of yarns while the next yarn it will pass under onlythe yarn y? of, this pair and also over the yarn y of the second pair; then under the yarns 1% and y, and so on throughout the whole fabric. This variety of fabric is called plain braid and its pattern is shown more correctly in Fig. 10 which is a development of the surface illustrating the yarns closely compacted. To make the illustration more graphicthe strands are shown as' consisting erally fabricated with the strands in multiple as shown. a

tions of the braid produced by the action under the next yarn y yarn 0 passes over the yarn 3 under the yarn and over the yarn 3 words, the lower yarns a2 assover and um "der the upper yarns y sing y and alternately. This variety of fabric is called basket 11 with the strands illustrated as composed grooves in the cams '60 and 61 .mi ht be otherwise varied to produce still further quently used.

From the above description it will be seen that my invention comprises a novel ar- -rangement for producing different varieties of fabric on the same machine. changeable mechanism for actuating the may be set for the shifting a lever.

With my new device it is not necessary to pattern desired by simply machine and therefore time and labor .is

the effect of inertia and momentum.

Various modifications might be made in machine without'departing from the s irit and scope of theinvention, therefore, do not limit myself to the struction shown, but

What I-claim'is:j- 1. In a braiding machine,-the combination with two sets 0 yarn supplies revolving set sinuating through the supplies of the other set, of separate switches to -control all of the sinuatingyarns, a single member connected to each of the switches, and means to oscillate said member with a rotary movement about the axis of the machine.

2. In a braiding machine, the combination withtwosets of yarn supplies revolving in opposite directions, the yarns from one set sinuating through "thesupplies of the other set, of-separateswitchesto control all of the Figs. 8 and 9 are diagrammatic illustrabraid and its exact pattern is shown in modifications in the pattern -.of the fabric, but the designs shown are those most fre-,

make any alterationsin the structure of the the structure and arrangement of my new.

precise form of con- 115 of three yarns'each and thehraid is genof the lower cam 60. In this variety of fabric the lower yarn w passes under one of the upper yarns y, over the next yarn g and The next lower I he 8 of three strands each. It is obvious that the The interswitches is self-contained in the machine and- I saved in changin from one variety of braid ameter than in my previous structure to provide for; a minimum weight and lessen.

in opposite directions, the yarns from one 4 neanma sinuating yarns, a ring member connected to each of the switches, and means to oscillate said ring with a rotary movement about the axis of the machine.

3. In a braiding machine, the combination with a moving member supporting two sets of yarn supplies, of a second member moving adjacent the first in an opposite direction, means whereby one set of supplies is propelled with and by the second member, a plurality of switches on the second member adapted to control the yarns passing by the supplies carried with said member, a ring carried on said second member and connected to each of the switches, and means to impart a rotary oscillating movement to the ring to shift the switches.

4. In a braiding machine, the combination with two sets of yarn supplies, of a moving member to carry one set of supplies, a second member moving in the opposite direction, means to move the other set of sup' plies by and with the second member, switches pivoted on the second member and adapted to be shifted tocontrol the braiding of the yarns, a ring carried by the second member and connected to each of the switches, and means to impart a rotary oscillating movement to the ring to shift the switches. v

5. In a braitling machine, the combination with a turret rotating .in one direction and supporting two sets of yarnsupplies, a sec-v ond turret rotating in the opposite direction, drivers whereby one set of supplies is moved in the same direction as the second turret, means on the first turret to actuate the drivers, switches pivoted on.the second turret, a single member rotating with the sec- 0nd turret and connected to all of the switches, and means to oscillate said member with a rotary movement to shift the switches.

6. In a braiding machine, the combination with two sets of yarn supplies, of a member to carry one set, a second member moving in the opposite direction and arranged to drive the second set of supplies, switches on the second member adapted to be shifted to control'the varns, a member connected to shift all of said switches and interchange.

Y able means to actuate said member to shift the switches with difierently timed movements to vary the pattern of the'braid, said means interchangeable during the operation of the machine.

-7. In a braiding machine, the combination with two sets of yarn supplies revolving in opposite directions, the yarns from one set sinuating through the supplies of the other set, of switches revolving with one set of supplies and acting to control the sinuating yarns from the terchangeable durin the operation of the machine to actuate the switches so that the other set, and means in-= to engage one or timing of their movements may be regulated to vary the pattern of the braid.

8. In a braiding machine, the combination with two sets of yarn supplies moving in opposite directions, the yarns from one set sinuating through the supplies of the other set, of switches to control all of the sinuating yarns, means to actuate the switches with a predetermined timing of their movements and a second means for actuating the switches with a different timing of movement, with both of said means normally stationary in the machine but shiftable to render one or the other operative.

9. In a braiding machine, the combination with two sets of yarn supplies moving in opposite directions, the yarns from one set sinuating through the supplies of the other set, of means to control the sinuating yarns, and interchangeable devices to operate said controlling means arranged to be shifted into or out of engagement with the latter during the operation of the machine to regulate the timing of the controlling means to vary the pattern of thebraid.

10. In a braiding machine, the combination with two sets of yarn supplies moving in opposite directions, of devices-to cause the sinuation of the yarns from one set of supplies over and under the yarns of the other set, and interchangeable means selfcontained in the machine to operate said devices according to the pattern desired in the fabric, said means normally stationary in the machine but shiftable in position to render one or the other operative.

11. In a braidingmachine, the combination with two sets of yarn supplies,moving in opposite directions, the yarns from one set sinuating through the supplies of the other set, of switches to control all of the sinuating yarns, means to actuate the switches, and interchangeable cams, selfcontained in the machine, said cams shiftable into and out of position to operate the switch actuating means.

' 12. In a braiding machine, the combination. with two sets of'yarn supplies moving in opposite directions, the yarns from one set sinuating through the supplies of the other set, of means to control all of the sinuating yarns, and interchangeable cams, selfcontained' in the machine, said cams shiftable into and out of position to operate the controlling means.

13. In a braiding machine, the combination with'two sets of yarn supplies moving in opposite directions, the yarns from one set sinuating through the supplies of the other set, of devices to control all of the sinuating yarns, ate saiddevices, and means to shift'the cams the other with the controlling devices. 14:. In a braiding machine, the combinainterchangeable cams to opertion with two sets of yarn supplies moving in opposite directions, the yarns from one set sinuating through the supplies of the other set, switches to control the sinuating yarns, means to shift the switches, a lever to operate said means, interchangeable cams to operate the lever and means to, engage one or the other of the cams with the lever cams to carry one or the other into engagement with its respective stud on the lever.

16. In a braiding machine, the combination with two sets of yarn sup-plies moving in opposite directions, the yarns from one set sinuating through the supplies of the other set, of switches to control the sinuating yarns, means to actuate said switches, a lever to operate said means, cams movable in and out of engagement with the lever, and means to move the cams. 17. In a braiding machine, the combination with two sets of yarn supplies moving in opposite directions, the yarns from one set sinuating through the supplies of the other set, switches to control the. sinuating yarns, means to shift the switches, a lever to operate said means, cams movable in and, out of engagement with said lever, devices to move the cams, and means to lock said devices to secure the cams in their different positions.

18. In a braiding machine, the combination with a central stationary frame, of turrets rotating in bearings on the frame, two sets of yarn supplies revolved in opposite directions by the turrets, meansto interlace' the yarns from one set of supplies wit-h those of the other set, a lever to operate said means, cams movably mounted on the frame, and means to shift the cams to engage either one with the lever.

19. In a braiding machine, the combination with a central stationary. frame, of turrets rotating in bearings on the frame, two sets of yarn supplies revolved in opposite directions by the turrets, means to interlace the yarns from one set of supplies with those of the other set, a lever to operate said means, a bearing 31 on the machine frame, cams and 61 slidable up and down on the bearing and means to slide the cams to engage either one with the lever.

20. In a braiding machine, the combination with a stationary frame, of two sets of yarn supplies revoluble about the frame, means to interlace the yarns from'one set of supplies with those of the other set, interchangeable cams to control said means, said cams movably mounted on the frame, a lever pivoted on the frame and connected to move the cams, and means to lock the lever to secure the cams in their different positions.

21. In a braiding machine, the combinathrough the bearing 31 and connected at one end with the cams, and a lever pivoted on the frame and connected with the opposite'end of the rod to shift the cams.

22. In a braiding machine, the combination with an outer and inner turret, of two sets of yarn supplies revolved in opposite directions by said turrets, switches on the inner turret for controlling the yarns from one set of supplies, a plurality of roller bearings on the inner turret, a'ring mounted on said bearings and connected with the switches, and means to oscillate the ring with "a' rotary motion in respect to its turret.

23. In a braiding machine, the combination with two sets of yarn supplies moving in opposite directions, the yarns from one 1 set sinuating through the supplies of the other set, of. means to control the sinuating yarns, a plurality of interchangeable nonrotatable cams self-contained in the machine, and means to connect one cam at a time with the yarn-controlling means to regulate the shifting of the yarns.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SIMON W. WARDl/VELL. Witnesses:

' DANIEL MCNIVEN,

CHARLES D. REYNOLDS. 

